Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698927461895.pdf (Micronesia, Federated States of)
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT NO.

17-23 RE: C.R.

NO.

17-36/EX AFF SUBJECT: CONFIRMATION OF THE NOMINATION OF MR. ASTERIO R. TAKESY TO THE POSITION OF FSM AMBASSADOR PLENIPOTENTIARY TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AUGUST 04, 2011 The Honorable Isaac V. Figir Speaker, Seventeenth Congress Federated States of Micronesia First Special Session, 2011 Dear Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on External Affairs, to which was referred C.R.

No.
No.

17-36, entitled: “A RESOLUTION TO CONFIRM THE NOMINATION OF MR. ASTERIO R. TAKESY TO THE POSITION OF FSM AMBASSADOR PLENIPOTENTIARY TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN WASHINGTON, D.C.”, begs leave to report as follows: As is the case with all ambassadorial positions, the individual selected as Ambassador to the United States must be able to operate our overseas diplomatic office with efficiency, integrity and the highest levels of expertise regarding policy issues affecting our two countries.
However, your Committee recognizes that the importance of the Federated States of Micronesia’s deep ties and unique relationship with the United States of America makes the position of Ambassador to the United States special.

Our close relationship with the United States is manifested in the Compact of Free Association executed between our countries providing for economic assistance, defense agreements, immigration privileges, and support for development, among others.
The Ambassador to the United States of America must be intimately familiar with the Compact and its processes.

Also, many FSM citizens reside in the United States.

The Ambassador must advocate for our citizens residing abroad while addressing any concerns the United States has regarding their stay in the United States.

For these reasons the FSM Ambassador to the United States is the most important position in the FSM Foreign Service.

SCRL 17-25/CRN 17-36 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT NO.

17-23 RE: C.R.
17-23 RE: C.R.

NO.

17-36/EX AFF SUBJECT: CONFIRMATION OF THE NOMINATION OF MR. ASTERIO R. TAKESY TO THE POSITION OF FSM AMBASSADOR PLENIPOTENTIARY TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AUGUST 04, 2011 Your Committee held a public hearing on July 28, 2011 with the nominee.

The nominee testified to the Committee that he is currently self-employed.

He has, however, extensive government and diplomatic experience.
He served as the Secretary of the FSM Department of Foreign Affairs, then as Executive Director of the Joint Committee on Compact Negotiation thereby gaining profound knowledge of the Compact and the negotiation process that led to it.

He served for six years as Chief Executive Officer of the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), an international agency focusing the on the environment, where he was in charge of 70 professional employees.
This allowed him to acquire expertise on issues such as climate change.

He has served at the Washington Embassy as a staff member, and has lived for extensive periods in the U.S.

He is thoroughly aware of the issues facing FSM Citizens, especially immigration and free entry under the Compact to the extent those provisions are impacted by Freely Associated States’ citizens receiving public assistance in the U.S.
In addition to diplomatic skills, his previous positions were challenging management positions, and he has a proven track record in management.

This is necessary because the embassy in Washington also supervises the FSM consulates in Guam and Hawaii.

The President and the Chief of Staff were the officials who spoke to the nominee about his interest in the position.
He has since met with the then-Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and is ready to work within the management framework of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

If confirmed the nominee stated he will advocate a pro- active foreign policy and recommend to the President active measures to improve the diplomatic image of the Federated States of Micronesia.

He also believes that diplomacy should be not just from the perspective of the Department of Foreign Affairs, but the entire Nation.
-2- STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT NO.

17-23 RE: C.R.

NO.

17-36/EX AFF SUBJECT: CONFIRMATION OF THE NOMINATION OF MR. ASTERIO R. TAKESY TO THE POSITION OF FSM AMBASSADOR PLENIPOTENTIARY TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AUGUST 04, 2011 Your Committee is very impressed by the nominee’s experience.

It will be hard to find another FSM Citizen with credentials that exceed this nominee’s.

He also made a detailed and well-prepared presentation of his suitability for the position.
The nominee appears to have a good grasp of the important issues relevant to the position of Ambassador, including those facing FSM migrants, issues relating to international environmental matters and the Compact.

The nominee is well versed and very well qualified.

Your Committee supports the nominee for this position.

Your Committee has not received any communication that would cast doubt on the performance or integrity of the nominee.
Further, your Committee defers to the President and the Department as to the decision to put forward this nominee.

Absent any contrary indication, your Committee strongly believes this nominee should be confirmed, and so recommends confirmation of Mr. Asterio R. Takesy to the position FSM Ambassador Plenipotentiary to the United States of America in Washington, D.C.

Your Committee on External Affairs is in accord with the intent and purpose of C.R.

No.
No.

17-36, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto.

-3- STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT NO.

17-23 RE: C.R.

NO.
NO.

17-36/EX AFF SUBJECT: CONFIRMATION OF THE NOMINATION OF MR. ASTERIO R. TAKESY TO THE POSITION OF FSM AMBASSADOR PLENIPOTENTIARY TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AUGUST 04, 2011 Respectfully submitted, /s/ Paliknoa K. Welly Paliknoa K. Welly, chairman /s/ Tiwiter Aritos Tiwiter Aritos, vice chairman /s/ Isaac V. Figir Isaac V. Figir, member Berney Martin, member /s/ Tony H. Otto Tony H. Otto, member Wesley P. Simina, member /s/ David W. Panuelo David W. Panuelo, member -4-